Cage of Deceit(46)

He didn’t respond. His mouth drew tight in concentration. Jarvik sidestepped her attack and began one of his own, putting her on the defensive.

“So how’d you learn swordplay?” she asked, trying to sound as if sparring with him was easy and she wasn’t even exerting herself. “By watching your fearless prince practice with his army?”

His eyes flashed with anger. It was all she needed to have the advantage. He didn’t even see her roundhouse kick coming. She struck his sword arm, but he maintained a strong hold on his weapon. Having the element of surprise, she went into full-blown attack mode. Just when she thought he’d go down, he spun and caught her by surprise, sweeping her legs out from under her. Hitting the ground hard, she forced herself to roll and jump to her feet, swinging at the squire again, this time with more force than necessary.

“Your technique is exceptional,” Jarvik said, surprising her. “If you speed up your attack, you’ll have the advantage.”

She was moving as fast as she could. Even though she didn’t want to admit it, Jarvik was rather good, too. He was better than Marek and possibly on par with her father. No wonder Darmik had been so sweaty.

“What other weapons are you familiar with?” Jarvik asked.

She lowered her sword, breathing heavily. “Daggers, bow and arrow, that’s about it.”

“Let’s take a break,” he said, not even sounding winded. “What weapons do you plan to take when you meet with the assassin?”

She practically laughed. It didn’t matter what she had with her. The assassin was obviously a skilled fighter since he’d managed to render all her guards unconscious in less than ten seconds.

“Not here,” she replied, glancing at the soldiers near the doors.

“We should talk before we go,” he whispered.

“I know.” They needed to have some sort of plan in place. “Meet me in the library tonight,” she said, putting her practice sword away.

“Only if you can manage to be civil and not bite my head off.”

She rolled her eyes, unable to promise him anything.



At dinner that evening, Allyssa had been seated next to Prince Odar. She supposed it was her mother’s way of making it clear to everyone present that the two of them were officially courting. As soon as the marriage contract was finalized, they could announce their engagement and start planning the wedding.

“You’re awfully quiet tonight,” the prince whispered so only she could hear. Jarvik sat on his other side, Darmik beside her.

“I didn’t realize I was being unsocial,” she replied.

“I’d like to take you riding. You do ride, don’t you?”

“Of course,” she said.

“Are you available tomorrow?”

Besides being present in the Throne Room for the people’s petitions and on the balcony during the weekly address to the city, she didn’t have anything else scheduled. “I believe I can make time for you,” she answered. “Your squire can make the necessary arrangements with Marek, the head of my guard.”

The prince gave a slow nod. “Speaking of my squire, I have a few questions for you.”

She coughed, choking on a piece of food. Her father looked at her, and she waved him off. She was fine, just caught off guard by the subject matter. “What would you like to discuss?” She hoped it didn’t have anything to do with the assassin.

“The two of you … well, how shall I put it? You two seem to dislike each other,” the prince said pleasantly.

Allyssa glanced sidelong at Jarvik. He wasn’t looking her way, but she wouldn’t put it past him to be listening even though he seemed engaged in conversation with the man to his right. Setting her fork down, she gave the prince her full attention. “And this concerns you since we plan to marry?”

The corners of his lips lifted into a slow smile. “It does present some difficulties.”

“I understand,” she said. “You want him to move here with you, but not if there’s going to be animosity between him and me.”

“Exactly.” The prince picked up his goblet and took a long drink.

“Would it help if I made an effort to become better acquainted with him?” After all, she still needed the squire’s approval for the marriage to go through.

“You’re a good person,” Prince Odar quietly said. “I had feared that someone so young and beautiful, who had grown up in the luxuries of the Emperion court, couldn’t be a wise and just ruler. Now that I’ve met you, I can see my fears were unfounded.” He focused on his plate, eating his food without looking her way.